Malakas and Maganda

by Jebbie Barrios

Who could have imagined that we came out of bamboo? Well one guy thought of it. And thus, was Malakas and Maganda.

According to legend, a bird in its frustration snapped at a bamboo and inside it was Malakas (the strong one) and Maganda ( the beautiful one). Talk about being born in frustration. Anyway, maybe because of this legend that as a kid, I was always looking at bamboo and kept thinking how can a man and a woman have fit inside. Maybe it was a really, really huge piece of bamboo and a really, really huge bird involved. Houses shouldn't be a problem if those extra large bamboo exist.

According to a renowned Filipino Anthropologist of the University of the Philippines, Felipe Jocano Jr., before the Marcos era, Malakas was known as Sikalak and Maganda used to be Sikabay. Talk about change of names. Just like changing the names of roads here ain't it? Maybe next administration they'd change it to the name of a general and his wife. =))

Our story of creation sets us apart. No other culture tells of man and woman being of equal, yet distinct from each other. In other words, for Filipinos, man and woman complement each other but neither is dominant. It also depicts that we are part of the world. If the world grows sick and disturbed, so will we. Hopefully more reason for us to take care of our home...

Colt M1911 or the "Kwarenta y Singko"

7 rounds. Calibre 45. Destructive. Effective. This weapon became standard issue for US Warfare because of the battles in the Philippine-American War.

The Philippine Moro Warriors were just unstoppable. Using the environment and high battle morale to fight the Americans, one warrior even took 33 bullets before dropping. It was as if bullets don't faze these people. No fear. So it was needed, a weapon with more stopping power. Thus, the Colt M1911.

Adobo ulet, anyone?

As if we can't get enough of it. Almost everything becomes adobo-ized. Pork adobo, chicken adobo, beef adobo...adobong kangkong! Every eatery in the Philippines serves their own version of this magnificent dish, almost every family has a secret recipe and a secret way of cooking. Some like it dried, some like it masabaw. One thing is for sure, if its adobo, sira ang diet mo! (your diet becomes ruined)

As promised, how to cook adobo is what will be featured now. Please note that due to diversity in the Philippines, there are hundreds of ways to cook adobo. This will not be a recipe of exact measurement because taste preferences differ greatly especially in the Philippines. What I encourage everyone is to experiment and be not afraid to try different styles and techniques. Adobo is the best way to start learning how to cook because almost nothing can go wrong with it. And if ever something goes wrong, your cooking won't be sooooooo catastrophic. Here's the list of ingredients:

Pork or Chicken Meat or combination of both

Vinegar (any available vinegar)

Garlic (crushed or sliced doesn't matter)

Peppercorns or Pamintang buo

Bay leaves (laurel)

Salt 

These are the basic ingredients of a functional adobo. In pre-historic times, it is only salt and vinegar cooked with meat but during the Spanish colonial times, spices were added to add to form the more common adobo. Soy sauce is not in the ingredients since it is only a recent addition, so that it appears brown without the long process of cooking. Soy sauce is basically a shortcut.

How easy to cook adobo? Combine all ingredients in the pan and fire it, after boiling add some water. Wait for the sabaw to reduce or dry up and the oil of the meats come out, then its ready. Just don't burn it ok?

A more complex way of cooking, put everything in palayok, fire it up and add water when it boils. Cook it really slowly in low fire for about two hours. Meat will be really soft during this time and all the flavor is perfectly balanced in the dish. If you can't stop yourself anymore, go ahead and indulge. But if you still want the better flavor, put everything in a glass garapon and make sure it is covered in its own fats and oil. Let it stay in room temperature for a few days. The adobo is habang tumatagal, sumasarap (the more it is aged, it tastes better). It will not spoil, so as long as its covered in its oil and fat, and because of vinegar and spices. After a few days, fry the adobo. On your first bite, its gonna be heaven.

The Unstoppable Warriors

Ferocity. Fearlessness. These are the words that would describe them. These are what you see looking at their eyes. They claim they were unconquerable, they are the Pinoy Moro Warriors.

Centuries and centuries ago, all throughout the world, the Moro warrior has that fearsome reputation. The Moros against the Crusades, Moros against the Spaniards, Moros against the Philippine colonists. Didn't they ever learn?

Panglima Hassan

It is the question that runs in mind. Why are the Moro warriors unconquerable? They are known not to give in, proud, and very traditional and perhaps there lies their strength and durability. Imagine hundreds of years of resistance of Spain in Mindanao. There was no Spanish occupation, only years of war. Even Americans. When they said "Halt!" the guns say halt too, but the Moro warriors kept going!

According to stories, during the American campaigns in Mindanao, it took a lot of bullets to stop a rushing Moro warrior and most of the time taking an enemy with him when he goes down. Panglima Hassan, as historians say was stopped on the 33rd bullet that hit him! Had he not been hit on the head, he would have charged on and on.

He should have retreated after being hit by the 20th bullet. So he can claim being "bulletproof." It would scare the hell out of those Americans when he attacks next time.

EDSA Revolution, Revisited

Twenty five years ago, Filipinos went to the streets filling Epifanio de los Santos Avenue. By the thousands, they came. Through EDSA, we changed history, democracy and the meaning of revolution forever.

We showed the world that we are a race of warriors ready to brave tanks and armed soldiers with nothing but ourselves and prayers. This battle in 1986, was not a battle of armed conflict but a battle of will, solidarity, conviction, unity and faith. It was the day we choose to stand up for who we believe in, and it was monumental.

The story has been retold over and over again. Even the inside story has been told, the political struggles, the interplay of power to those in position. Still a nation has been moved, a nation has been changed, a nation has chosen. Well, technically...just the  residents of Metro Manila and a few from Luzon did.

EDSA now became a symbol of resistance, reforms, and democracy. And also peace. Whenever there's a need for radical change, it is being taken to the streets. Thus a couple more "EDSA's" followed. But those that attempted to repeat 1986, they never came close to the real thing.

The question is, after 25 years, what good did the EDSA Revolution do to our country? Did it just seal the lid on our title as being peaceful revolutionaries?

Our National hero, Dr. Jose Rizal believed in peaceful revolutions. Perhaps the EDSA Revolution resulted partly in his works. 

Maybe.

Update: Check another article I wrote regarding EDSA Revolution. Read it here. Another Perspective of People Power and the EDSA Revolution.

The Bente Nueve (Balisong)

Its not the number of days in February in a leap year calendar. It is in fact name of a knife here in the Philippines. The bente nueve is the Balisong.

Batangueños are notoriously known for their courage and bravery, and the special knife they bring with them all the time. Ornate with anything from hardwood, buffalo horns, ivory and bone, the balisong traces its roots to Europe according to recent resources. Popularized in the Philippines because of the Filipino knife-based martial art system, and the fancy, but intimidating manipulations of the knife, its fame spread far and wide.

The bente nueve is the Spanish for twenty nine, describing the length of a fully opened balisong, 29 centimeters. It is safe, even safer to handle than kitchen knives yet extremely deadly when used as a weapon, especially in the hands of a guy who knows Pinoy fighting. Outlawed on most countries because of its intimidating nature and fast deployment, the balisong enjoys popularity even if prohibited.

The best balisongs are made in a town in Batangas called Balisong. Only, one has to be careful in buying because some sell cheap China imports instead of the locally made knives.

Harana, the Lost Ritual in Pinoy Courtship

For every man, there is a woman. To how he gets to the woman, it is a challenge and a quest. For us Filipino, we have something, but that something is fast sliding into forgotteness.

In the days of old, our women, for their hearts to be won, tradition must be followed. Tradition encouraging romance, respect, and courtship.With the rise of technology, tradition gradually changed, and with it fades the courtship practice of Pinoys. Harana may still be here, but perhaps in the next generation it could totally disappear.

From Harana Documentary

Harana is singing to woo women underneath her window at night. On a special evening, a suitor gathers a few of his friends and perhaps the haranista, the barrio's experienced man in this courtship ritual, and troop to the house where the suitor's lady lives. He offers a song and his love to the lady. A lady shows her appreciation when the lights and windows open, and she show herself. But sometimes, its not the girl that shows up but the arinola (portable urinal) and its contents :)

If the suitor is acceptable for the girl she will let the men in the house, or let them stay outside and she responds with a song. All these may happen under the watchful eye of the parents.

Presently, the tradition is almost non existent. Gone are the men, getting together over tuba or some liquor, practicing and singing to help a fellow in his quest for love. For a Pinoy to be truly a man, one must win the heart of his irog (loved one). The cool evenings, the sweet voice, the gentle strumming of the guitar and a heart warming song offered to a lady. For sure, all of these can cause more than just a smile from her.

Update: To know how it really is to serenade, read this article. Paano ba talaga mang-Harana?